Healthy Breakfast and Brunch Recipes

Kick off your morning with this collection of healthy breakfast recipes from casseroles and quiches, to muffins and sweet rolls.

Kick off your morning with this collection of healthy breakfast recipes from casseroles and quiches, to muffins and sweet rolls.

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Cooking Light

July 08, 2009

1 of 114Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Dutch Baby with Strawberries and Pistachios

The key to the dish's dramatic puff comes from oven spring—the jolt of steam and heat the batter gets when it's poured into the sizzling-hot pan and then goes straight into a cranked-up oven. Make the strawberry mixture first so the fruit has time to macerate and get even juicier.

Chicken and Waffles with Kicky Syrup

If ever a breakfast-meets-dinner combo were to go viral, chicken and waffles would be it. The mash-up actually dates back a couple hundred years, and we can guess why—the sweet, crunchy, and salty trio was surely just as crave-worthy then as it is now.

Blackberry-Citrus Granola Bowl

The best way to cook steel-cut oats during the week? Don't cook them at all. Soak the oats overnight in your milk of choice: The oats will soften and plump in the liquid but remain slightly chewy. Enjoy cold, or heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Cocoa nibs add a little extra crunch and a wake-up jolt similar to coffee.

Fluffiest Multigrain Pancakes with Almond Butter Drizzle

Get ready; this will become your new Sunday morning staple. These pancakes are wonderfully hearty, thanks to old-fashioned oats and white whole-wheat flour, yet their texture is still fluffy and light, with a beguiling creaminess in the middle. Instead of dousing this short stack with syrup, we opt instead for a nutty sauce of maple-sweetened almond butter—cutting about 27g added sugars from the typical pancake breakfast. (Feel free to sub any nut butter you have on hand). Soaking the oats first softens them and helps create that creamy interior texture. As they soak, you can make the almond butter sauce and measure out the other ingredients.

Brunch Parfaits

This five-ingredient parfait is perfect for a healthful on-the-go breakfast. ruthieright21 says, “This was a quick and easy summer breakfast. I layered granola throughout the whole parfait (instead of just on top) for extra crunch.”

Saucy Skillet-Poached Eggs

If you've ever had Italian eggs in purgatory, this recipes makes a similar Israeli breakfast dish called shakshuka. If you need to stretch the meal, simply add another egg to the pan. Top with any herb, such as cilantro, chives, or oregano.

Quick Chicken Pho

"The fragrant noodle soup we love to slurp on cool evenings is actually the breakfast of champions," says cookbook author Andrea Nguyen. "It's a fabulous wake-up call that energizes and satisfies. Toasting spices and searing ginger help extract flavor fast, while poaching the chicken in the stock adds savory depth," Nguyen says. This broth is a lower-sodium adaptation of Nguyen's recipe.

Hash Brown Casserole with Bacon, Onions, and Cheese

If you're looking for an all-purpose dish that will feed a crowd, this is the recipe for you. All the work can be done a day ahead. When you’re ready to serve, just pop it in the oven for 30 minutes.

Susan took this casserole to a weekend getaway at the lake with friends. “I wanted to take a breakfast dish that didn't require standing over the stove flipping pancakes or scrambling eggs for a crowd. I made this recipe the night before we left, and it was a hit with everyone!”

Easy Homemade Breakfast Sausage

A little ground pork gives ground turkey extra richness; dark maple syrup lends a touch of breakfast-y sweetness, and fresh herbs brighten the mix. In just 25 minutes, you have delicious, freezable patties with 40% less saturated fat and half the sodium of popular commercial brands.

Banana-Cinnamon Waffles

This recipe isn’t just for breakfast, as carolfitz discovered. “We make these for Sunday breakfast, and we also have served is as dessert, topped with vanilla yogurt and drizzled with warm sugar-free caramel sauce. Always sprinkle some chopped pecans or walnuts on the batter.”

Crustless Smoked Turkey and Spinach Quiche

This five-star favorite is a reader recipe from Wendy McMillan of Longmont, Colorado. She advises to sprinkle some of the Swiss cheese in the pie plate first before adding the ham and egg mixture. The thin layer on the bottom gives another hit of flavor when you bite into a piece.

Erin from an online comment agrees: “The browned-cheese bottom layer is what really made this dish something special. I used a half-and-half mixture of cheddar and Swiss cheeses, and I upped the spinach a little bit. Otherwise, I made exactly as directed. I made it in a nonstick pie pan, which worked great. The dark finish made the bottom of the quiche nice and brown, and I didn't have any problem with sticking - I just dumped the quiche out onto a plate and served.”

Omelet with Summer Vegetables

The texture and flavor of this summery omelet is unmatched. “The smoked gouda lends a lot of flavor and the corn gives it a nice texture and a subtle sweetness that complements the smoky richness of the cheese,” explains northcountrycook. The ingredients are best in the summer but are still available at your grocery store year round.

Coconut-Buckwheat Granola

We change up the classic oat and nut combo with coconut flakes and starchy buckwheat groats. Look for pale-green groats; the toasted, dark-brown buckwheat can have a bitter flavor. You can also skip the buckwheat and add another 1/2 cup rolled oats.

Pain Perdu

Pain Perdu--literally "lost bread"--was traditionally a simple breakfast of day-old French bread dredged in beaten eggs and pan-fried in butter. Our lightened version is a 5-star hit. Many reviewers noted that they left out the wine in the sauce and it was still delicious. One person used frozen berries she had on hand and saved leftover sauce for topping frozen yogurt. All agree, this is one recipe to file away for special occasions and weekend brunches.

Matcha-Glazed Donuts

These easy baked donuts benefit from matcha in the batter and in the glaze, where it lends beautiful color. If you’re unfamiliar with matcha, it’s high-quality green tea that’s ground into a fine powder.

Southern Shrimp and Grits

This shellfish specialty of the Carolina Low Country, sometimes called "breakfast shrimp," tastes great for brunch or dinner. Start with frozen bell pepper and onion, as well as prepeeled and deveined shrimp, to minimize prep time.

One reviewer raved: “This is one of the best, and healthiest, versions of shrimp and grits I have ever tried, not to mention it’s fast and easy. Full of flavor, the grits in this recipe lend enough creaminess that no cream is necessary, leaving this recipe healthier than most other traditional versions. I get requests for this recipe all the time when I serve it. A must for your recipe arsenal!” We agree. This is a keeper.

Bloody Good Bloody Mary

You can't wing it with Bloodies. Random recipes might yield a crazy-thick throat-coater or a thin, insipid glass of blah. And many bottled mixes are sodium bombs. Here's a Bloody blueprint you can trust. Our streamlined version is zingy and sippable, with a fraction of the sodium you'll find in most others. Get mixing; its noon somewhere. Pickle juice is the secret weapon here, delivering briny tartness. We've tried pickled okra juice and dill pickle juice—both work. Add little cracked black pepper if you like.

French Toast Soufflé

Scoring high with dozens of online reviewers, this impressive quick dish lives up to the expectations raised by its mouth-watering name. bethanybuch shares her secret: “My husband loves this. He constantly asks me to make it and I haven't told him the secret (that it's so easy). He thinks I slave over it in the morning! I have made it about five times and it's perfect every time.”

Double-Apple Morning Elixir

Start your day with a drink that gives you a boost. Zingy green apple and apple cider vinegar will jump-start your morning.

24 of 114Photo: Randy Mayor

Cardamom-Lime Sweet Rolls

Making homemade bread is a rewarding endeavor, and these sweet rolls are worth the effort. Starting with a soft, sour cream-enriched dough, these yeast-risen rolls bake up incredibly light and tender. Lime rind and juice offer just enough citrus to brighten the heady aroma of cardamom.

Earlgrey said: “If you have a soft spot for cardamom, or if you have never tried it, give the rolls a shot (or just mix some cardamom with cinnamon).” Many reviewers also substituted cinnamon and orange for the cardamom and lime for a more traditional flavor profile. Any way you shake it, these will disappear before you know it.

Garden Vegetable Crustless Quiche

The season's best vegetables and a variety of cheeses make this a crowd-pleasing and healthy meal that can be assembled the night before, refrigerated, and cooked just prior to serving. Dozens of online reviewers have commented on this fan favorite.

One reviewer said: “I enjoyed this for breakfast all week long, and it kept me full until lunch time. The cottage cheese gives the quiche a nice tangy flavor. Next time I'm going to change up the veggies just for some variety—maybe broccoli, mushroom and tomato.”

Golden Milk Tea

Pecan Sticky Rolls

The dough for these rolls rises twice before being shaped, which contributes to the wonderfully rich flavor and soft texture. This recipe earned our Test Kitchens' highest rating, and it’s a 5-star hit with our readers online.

Jason raved: “We made these for a Sunday brunch, and they were the highlight of the meal. Unlike many sweet roll recipes that taste good but have a painfully small serving size, these rolls were irresistible and not wimpy little finger-size rolls! We will make these again.” We agree with Jason. Who has time for wimpy sweet rolls?

Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Casserole

Prep this delicious dish the night before for an easy breakfast or brunch. Find turkey sausage in the freezer section of the supermarket with other breakfast meats.

The consensus with online reviewers: Family and friends loved this casserole and were amazed that this was a lighter version of a traditional favorite. Put this in your file as a go-to make-ahead breakfast staple.

Jalapeño, Sausage, Jack, and Egg Breakfast Braid

This 2009 Ultimate Reader Recipe Contest category-winning dish makes an impressive addition to any brunch table. "When I have something spicy, I like to follow it with something fruity. Sweet and savory make a good flavor combination for breakfast in general, so I like to serve this with a fruit garnish like grapes or melon," says recipe contributor, Angela Spengler.

MamaD agrees that this is a winner: “Terrific recipe - perfect for company! I used green onions in place of onions and mild diced green chiles since the crowd I was feeding does not care for heat. You can mix this recipe up in so many ways to fit the taste of those you are serving!

Spinach, Caramelized Onion, and Feta Quiche

We’ve used a combination of convenience products, like frozen hash brown potatoes, frozen chopped spinach, and refrigerated breadstick dough, to cut down on prep time, something you always need when preparing a big brunch or breakfast meal. The balance of tangy feta, sweet caramelized onions, and earthy spinach makes this a hall-of-fame breakfast dish.

Sue, an online reviewer, offers some great tips: “The onions take about ½ hour to caramelize, and in that time, I prepared the other ingredients and lit the oven. Once the onions were done, it was only a minute to put it together. To further reduce fat and calories, bake it without a crust. The potatoes make a nice bottom layer.”

Grilled Goat Cheese Sandwiches with Fig and Honey

If you’re looking to change-up a tired breakfast routine, try these new-fashioned grilled cheese sandwiches. They are equally good for breakfast or dinner. Mixing honey with the goat cheese makes it easier to spread over the cinnamon-raisin bread.

Karen couldn’t have said it better: “I was looking for something different for breakfast and I stumbled upon this recipe...I have fallen in love and I drool on the mornings that I know I will be making this. The combination of the goat cheese and fig preserves is divine, and the lemon zest gives the combo just a touch of freshness. I don't always have basil on hand, but it is still dynamite without it.”

Orange-Cranberry Wheat Germ Muffins

These muffins are at their best warm, so reheat briefly if you make ahead. Wheat germ is an excellent source of vitamin E, so feel free to serve up a heaping basketful at your next brunch.

Online reviewers have made these a top-rated hit. One person had a great idea: “I baked these in mini-muffin pans and got 2-1/2 dozen. I adjusted the cooking time to 12 minutes.” As full size or mini-muffins, try these for a brunch or as a take-along breakfast anytime.

Libanais Breakfast

This Middle Eastern-inspired breakfast is a popular selection at Café Medina in Vancouver, where the dish includes a boiled egg and three salads—tabbouleh, cucumber salad, and baba ghanoush—complemented with crisp pita toasts. Our simplified version features just one salad—tabbouleh.

Eggs Poached in Curried Tomato Sauce

Decrease the heat by removing some or all of the jalapeño's seeds. You can make the sauce up to three days ahead; prepare through step 1, cool, cover, and refrigerate. Bring back to a gentle simmer before proceeding.

Pear and Gruyère Strata

Think of this as stuffed French toast in a casserole. Here, sweet cinnamon bread meets juicy pears and the savory bite of Gruyère cheese. You want a pear variety that will hold its shape and won't exude too much moisture as the strata bakes—we liked Anjou and Concorde.

Ciabatta French Toast with Warm Apple Maple Syrup

Moist yet crusty bread and nutty Gruyère cheese set this French toast recipe apart from more traditional varieties. A vegetable peeler works great for getting thin slices out of the cheese. For the apples, Rome or Fuji varieties would also work.

Coconut French Toast with Grilled Pineapple

Easy to make, this rich dish is full of flavor. It's best prepared with day-old bread. You can serve the pineapple slices raw, but the deep, caramelized flavors you get from cooking them in a grill pan are worth the extra effort.

Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Muffins

Winter Jeweled Fruit Salad

In Mexico, copas de frutas (fruit cups) are popular street food. They typically consist of fresh fruit sprinkled with lime juice and chili powder and are the inspiration for this jewel-colored fruit salad. Jicama (pronounced HEE-kah-mah), also known as a Mexican potato or turnip, tastes like a cross between an apple and a potato and adds crunch to the salad.

Spiced Persimmon and Pecan Muffins

Traditional spiced muffins suddenly seem stylish when made with seasonal persimmons. There are two distinct types: Creamy-fleshed Hachiya is mashed to keep the muffins moist, while firmer Fuyu is diced for fruity bits with some bite.

Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits

The less you knead the dough, the lighter and more tender your biscuits will be. Fat-free buttermilk adds a lovely tang and encourages a moist texture. This method of folding the dough creates irresistible flaky layers. To maximize the number of biscuits you get from the recipe, gather the dough scraps left after cutting, and gently pat or reroll them to a ¾-inch thickness.

Hearty Pancakes

Egg and Cheese Breakfast Tacos with Homemade Salsa

This recipe isn't just for breakfast. "My husband & I have this all the time for dinner and we use fresh eggs from a local farm," says WadeChartier. "I substitute flour tortillas and I also triple the amount of cumin. This is a casual night dish."

Carrot Cake Pancakes

Stuffed with toasted walnuts, shredded carrots, and all the spices found in carrot cake, these light buttermilk pancakes are a guilt-free breakfast pleasure. Top with some homemade honey butter or light pancake syrup.

Lemon-Scented Olive Oil Muffins

The unique flavor of these little breads is a slight departure from a traditional sweet muffin, and they make a delightful addition to any breakfast or brunch menu. If you love the taste of olive oil, choose a robust, full-flavored one for a more intense taste.

Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins

Tossing frozen blueberries with flour before adding them to the batter keeps them from turning the batter purple while they bake. If you use fresh blueberries, skip that step. Keep the muffins in a covered container and grab one in the morning before you head out the door for a super-delish and super-quick breakfast.

Whole-Wheat Cinnamon Rolls

This recipe encompasses everything you crave in a cinnamon roll, in a vastly lighter version. Brown sugar sweetens the filling of this breakfast treat, and powdered sugar dissolves into a milky glaze that's drizzled over the top of these delicious cinnamon rolls. Whole-wheat flour adds a healthy dimension to these tasty rolls.

German Apple Pancake

The dramatic presentation of this German pancake—it puffs up gloriously—as well as the recipe's rich, custardlike texture make it a morning delight. Use any type of firm, tart apple such as Granny Smith, pippin, Northern Spy, or Sierra Beauty.

Ham and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich with Mango Chutney

This sandwich packs protein from egg, calcium from cheese, and fiber and B vitamins from the whole-wheat muffin. For a touch of sweetness, spread your favorite jelly or jam over the bottom half of each sandwich.

Whole-Wheat Buttermilk Pancakes

Whether you're serving up breakfast for dinner or a delicious weekend brunch, make an extra batch and freeze to save for busy mornings. Bonus: Many of our online reviewers have called these fluffy, flavorful pancakes the best they've ever tasted.

Oven-Puffed Pancake

Classic French Omelet

Our Classic French Omelet is the perfect way to start off any morning. The trick to mastering the French omelet is to pull the pan off the heat as needed, while stirring, to control how fast the eggs cook. The finished omelet should be golden outside and unbrowned, while still creamy at the very center.

Quick Breakfast Tostada

This hearty dish, with eggs, beans, and cheese, will give your day a hearty start. Add a little cooked chicken or ground beef for a filling breakfast-for-dinner option, or cook the eggs ahead and pack each ingredient separately for an assemble-at-work lunch. It's also good for kids to make themselves, as everything cooks quickly in the microwave, no stove necessary.

Double Apple Bran Muffins

Oat bran, the outer casing of an oat, is high in fiber. Apples and applesauce make these healthful muffins sweet and moist. If making ahead, individually wrap cooled muffins, and freeze for up to one week.

Brie and Egg Strata

Stratas are easy make-ahead dishes. The night before, assemble and layer the casserole without the egg mixture; cover and refrigerate. Combine the egg mixture, and refrigerate in a separate container. In the morning, pour the egg mixture over the bread mixture; allow the strata to stand for 30 minutes before baking.

Whole-Grain Blackberry Spice Muffins

Coarsely chop frozen blackberries, and place them back in the freezer until ready to stir into the batter. To freeze muffins, let cool completely, and place in zip-top plastic bags. Reheat in microwave 20 seconds.

Pear and Walnut Muffins

Fragrant pears and walnuts make an unbeatable combination. For this recipe, you can use any type of pear available, though we suggest Anjou or Bartlett. Adding ground walnuts to these muffins results in a delightful richness. Turbinado sugar has large blond crystals and a subtle molasses flavor; substitute granulated sugar if you don't have turbinado.

Cinnamon-Raisin Muffins with Streusel Topping

"These muffins smelled so good while they were cooking," said reader Brandi B. Frederick. "The first words out of my mouth after the first bite were literally, 'Holy moly! These are amazing!!!' I haven’t had real muffins in several years, so I tried them out on unsuspecting 'normal' folks. I took a dozen of them to some friends, and they went nuts over them. No one could tell they were gluten free. They were light and fluffy, flavorful, and exceptionally delicious."

Breakfast Sausage Casserole

This satisfying breakfast recipe is perfect to make for weekend guests. Assemble and refrigerate the casserole the night before, and just pop it in the oven the next morning. Look for turkey sausage near other breakfast-style sausage in the frozen foods section.

Summer Vegetable Frittata

Sweet Potato and Pecan Flapjacks

Cornmeal adds crunch, and mashed sweet potatoes lend creaminess to this weekend favorite. Yellow- or white-fleshed sweet potatoes have a dry and crumbly texture when baked and are not moist enough to make tender pancakes, so use the orange variety. For convenience, roast a sweet potato the night before. Serve with maple syrup, butter, and fresh fruit, if desired.

Whole Wheat, Oatmeal, and Raisin Muffins

These muffins don't stop with whole-wheat flour. With four whole grains and three dried fruits, these muffins are a great way to get a variety of antioxidants and fiber. Wheat germ is a good source of vitamin E. Look for untoasted wheat germ in the organic food section of the supermarket. Adding boiling water to the batter and allowing it to sit for 15 minutes before baking allows the hearty oats, wheat germ, and bran to soak up the liquid for a more tender muffin.